John,
I'll be happy to test it. I have used mtrack a bit and am in the
process of turning it into a Debian package. I'd be interested in doing
the same with PREDICT after it is released, since the license appears to
meet the criteria for this.
Bob, W6SWE
On Sat, Sep 04, 1999 at 04:20:11PM -0400, John Magliacane wrote:
> Hi Folks!
>
> I'm about ready to release my latest version of PREDICT for Linux in a
> short while, and was wondering if anyone would be up to the challenge of
> testing the program and providing some feedback before I make a formal
> release of the software. There are still some issues I need to work on
> (such as writing documentation -- probably in HTML, and making the program
> easier for first-time users to set up their QTH and orbital data files),
> but I hope to have these issues resolved shortly.
>
> The major features of PREDICT V2.0 include:
>
> * Fully year 2000 compliant.
>
> * Designed under the Linux operating system to permit operation on a
> wide and expanding variety of hardware platforms ranging from palmtops
> to supercomputers (including 32-bit PCs (80386s or better) and Macintosh
> PowerPCs).
>
> * Open source licensing allows anyone to contribute new features to
> the program while forever keeping the software, and any derivative
> works, non-proprietary and freely available.
>
> * A *FAST* orbital prediction mode that predicts in advance passes of
> satellites and provides dates, times, coordinates, slant range distances,
> and sunlight and optical visibility information. Predictions are
> displayed in tabular form and may be saved to a log file for later
> reference or printing.
>
> * A real-time tracking mode that provides dynamic information such as
> sub-satellite point, groundstation azimuth and elevation headings,
> doppler shift, path loss, slant range, orbital altitude, orbital velocity,
> footprint diameter, orbital phase, the time and date of the next AOS
> (or LOS of the current pass), orbit number, and sunlight and visibility
> information for a single satellite, while at the same time providing
> live azimuth and elevation headings for both the sun and moon.
>
> * A multi-tracking mode that provides sub-satellite point, azimuth and
> elevation headings, and slant range distance information for all 24
> satellites in the program's current database on a real-time basis.
> Azimuth and elevation headings for the sun and moon are also provided,
> as a well as a listing of the AOS dates and times for the next three
> satellites expected to come into range of the groundstation.
>
> * Provides static information such as semimajor axis of ellipse,
> apogee and perigee altitudes, and anomalistic and nodal periods of
> satellite orbits.
>
> * Command line options permit alternate groundstation locations to be
> used or alternate orbital databases to be read and processed by the
> program, effectively allowing an UNLIMITED number of satellites to be
> tracked and managed. Additional options allow any orbital database
> file to be automatically updated using NASA Two-Line element data
> obtained via the Internet or via pacsat satellite without having
> to enter the program and manually select menu options to update
> the database.
>
> * A voice mode allows live azimuth and elevation headings of a satellite
> to be articulated to an observer to assist in locating a satellite by
> optical means.
>
> You'll need a C compiler (gcc 2.7.2 works -- I haven't tied egcs), and
> ncurses to build the program. A soundcard will be needed for the voice
> mode (add a low-power transmitter and have the program tell you where to
> find Mir in the evening sky!)
>
> Screenshots are available at: http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/software.html
>
> I'm also interested in how well the software compiles and runs on OSes
> other than Linux (such as SunOS, FreeBSD, etc.)
>
> Thanks!
>
>
> 73, de John, KD2BD
>
> --
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- John A. Magliacane, KD2BD -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
> Internet : kd2bd@amsat.org | Voice : +1.732.224.2948
> Satellite : AO-16, KO-25 | Morse : -.- -.. ..--- -... -..
> Packet : KD2BD @ N2SMV.NJ.USA.NA | WWW : http://www.njin.net/~magliaco/
> Video : 426.250 MHz/439.250 MHz | FAX : +1.732.224.2060
> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Linux Doesn't Cost. It Pays. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
>
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--
Bob Nielsen Internet: nielsen@primenet.com
Tucson, AZ AMPRnet: w6swe@w6swe.ampr.org
DM42nh http://www.primenet.com/~nielsen
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